New York, NY Local Guide

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The Boroughs Of New York

Bronx

The Bronx is one of the famous "five boroughs" of New York City. Like each of the boroughs, the Bronx has a unique character that is completely unique. Located on the north end of New York City, it is also the only major part of New York City that is primarily located on the mainland. At the last census, approximately 1.4 million people were living in the Bronx. The Bronx has undergone many character changes over the years. It is one of the most densely populated places in the country at present, but this comes after the massive amounts of urban decay that took place in the 60s and 70s. Today, the Bronx is a thriving community, where billions are being invested to create new housing.

New York has a reputation when it comes to housing for a very good reason. Essentially, it's always a battlefield. However, some experienced apartment hunters suggest that any time other than the summer might be a good option to search in the Bronx, with November providing the best odds of finding a good place.

The Bronx has some more affordable apartments than Manhattan, but it still is not a cheap place to live. Expect to pay in the neighborhood of at least $1100 for a one bedroom, and a couple hundred more for an extra room.

If you're looking for an apartment in the Bronx and have never lived there before, using a broker could be in your best interest. If you describe what you're looking for and your budget to the broker, they can use their connections to find you a place more quickly than you might manage on your own. Just be sure to check their fees before you commit.

7 different subway lines connect the Bronx to the rest of New York City, and this is by far the most economical and fastest way to get around. There are also commuter trains that are useful if you need to get to major destinations such as Union Station quickly. There are a series of bridges that connect the Bronx to Queens and Manhattan, but if you drive be prepared to face some of the worst traffic in the country.

With a nickname like ‘The Bronx Bombers' taking in a New York Yankees game is a must for each new resident of the Bronx. The Bronx Zoo is widely recognized as one of the best in the world, and a visit is sure to yield some sites that you will never get to see at smaller regional zoos. Bay Plaza is a good place to shop in the Bronx. Of course, once you've seen the Bronx, the rest of NYC awaits, including the lights of Broadway.

Queens

New York City has five boroughs and Queens is the largest of them all. It sits right next to Brooklyn. It is a large borough with approximately 2.3 million people calling it home. Queens is a very diversified area with approximately 48% of its residents from foreign descent. That's why you'll find a great mix of cultures with the two largest ethnic groups being Latin American and Asian. Queens has a humid subtropical climate and gets ample rainfall each year. Queens has so much life and it's represented in every corner of the borough. While Queens is a part of New York City; it is a mesmerizing place all on its own.

When looking for an apartment in Queens there is generally plenty of openings throughout the year. However it's best to look for a place in early spring or early fall before the busy seasons for apartment hunters gets started. You may want to do some research on the various neighborhoods so you can decide which areas you want to look into.

Rental prices in Queens varies depending on the neighborhood you live in. It can literally go from one extreme to another. Rental prices can go from $700 to well over $2800 depending on location.

Queens is constantly growing by leaps and bounds. Every year numerous people are coming to the area to look for a place to call home. Research the area you want to live so you can compare rental prices. Getting the unit you want means getting the paperwork in with money in hand. Landlords are used to tenants coming and going to they like to keep their properties filled.

Queens is not the city you want to be in without a vehicle. It is such a large area it is virtually impossible to get around without your own mode of transportation. The city does have public transportation. Check out their webpage at http://web.mta.info/mta/network.htm to find out about schedules, fares, tolls, etc.

There is so much to see and do in Queens it will take you months to possibly do it all maybe even a year. Jackson Heights offer a culture rich area with food options galore. Street vendors are common place in this area and offer a wide selection of tasty delectable items. The Long Island area of Queens has an amazing skyline, a wide variety of art and cultural items as well a beautiful waterfront. There are so many facets to Queens you'll simply have to get out and explore.

Staten Island

Although it is the smallest of the boroughs of New York City, State Island is still home to nearly half a million people. Staten Island is connected by bridge to both New Jersey and the rest of New York City. The Verrazano-Narrows bridge provides commuters with a direct path into Brooklyn. Staten Island is also home to one of the largest boardwalks in the world, something that is popular with tourists and locals.
Staten Island has been a haven for many of the artistically inclined that work in Manhattan but can no longer afford to live there. It also has a much different feel than the rest of the city, and people live a different type of lifestyle on the island. For instance, while more than half of the people living in the rest of NYC do not have cars, fewer than 20% of Staten Island households don't have at least one car.

Staten Island is easier to find an apartment in than Manhattan, but it still brings with it some of the apartment hunting difficulties people expect in NYC. In general, if you give yourself a month you should be able to find an apartment, but if you find that you're picky about accommodations, double that timespan to find something that you're truly happy with.

Staten Island is certainly affordable compared to Manhattan, but still expensive compared to the rest of the country. Most one bedroom apartments will cost more than $1000 each month to rent.

When you're renting an apartment in NYC, including Staten Island, you will find that many people recommend working with a broker. While you can find an apartment without one, you may notice that the search is easier if you move through a broker. When dealing with an apartment broker however, beware of high-fees that may greatly inflate the cost of rent compared to what you might find in a no-fee apartment.

As previously mentioned, driving on Staten Island is much more common than in the rest of NYC, and a car is a great way to get around the island itself. Although the bridge does provide a means of driving into Manhattan, most people find that to be more trouble than its worth, due to high traffic volume and the high cost of parking. There is a train on Staten Island, but it doesn't connect up with the NYC subway proper. Most people take the ferry to Manhattan, and then access the subway system.

Staten Island is part of the city that never sleeps, and although it is off in its own corner of the city, it is still part of NYC. Many people head into the city on weekends to take in the best concerts and theatre in the world, as well as to enjoy unparalleled dining and drinking. Summer nights on the boardwalk are a Staten Island tradition. Soon, you will also be able to visit the giant New York Wheel that soars 360 feet above the city.

Brooklyn

Just across one of the most famous bridges in the world from Manhattan lies the borough of Brooklyn. Brooklyn has a very rich and storied history as both a city of its own, and then later, as a borough of New York City. Originally founded as a Dutch colony, the city grew to a manufacturing powerhouse during the civil war. In 1989 the city of Brooklyn merged with New York City in what was dubbed by many journalists as the "Great Mistake of 1898". While there was initially some apprehension about the merge, today Brooklyn is home to many of the city's great attractions. If you are looking to catch a Nets game or enjoy some leisure time at Coney Island, Brooklyn has plenty to offer.

Manhattan

While Manhattan is not a populous as Brooklyn or Queens, it is the most densely populated of the five boroughs. Manhattan is home to many Iconic New York City attractions, and even plays host to the United Nations. The famous Central Park allows residents and tourists alike the ability to enjoy nature with out door ice skating in the winter and the zoo in the summer.

A Local Perspective

Whether you call it "The Big Apple", "The City That Never Sleeps", "Gotham" or plain old "New York, New York," there is no denying that NYC is one of the greatest cities in the entire world. Other cities have long since surpassed it in size, and yet for some reason, it is still the city against which all others are measured. It doesn't seem to matter what happens, New York remains in most eyes, the greatest city in the world.New York has a true metropolitan population, with people from all over the globe making their home there. It is the center of the global financial markets. Broadway is home to what many consider the greatest shows on Earth, and the shopping is unrivalled. However you define a great city, the chances are that New York is a standout.

Finding a New York Apartment

When to search

The best time to look for apartments in New York City is usually in the dead of winter. The cold weather seems to also cool the apartment market, so landlords are more interested in making accommodations in order to get their suites filled. Look during January, February or March for the best results

Staying in the know

Getting an apartment in New York is tough. Almost every apartment you look at will have someone else interested in it, so you need to do everything you can to make your application stand out. If your applications aren't getting results on their own, consider hiring a broker to help you find a great place.

New York Neighborhoods

Life in New York

Transportation

New York City is home to one of the greatest transit systems in the world. Very few people within the city choose to drive, unless they live in Staten Island, where car ownership is more common. If you live, work or study in any of the other four boroughs, your best option is to get a transit pass and avail yourself of the New York City subway system.

Where to play

Whatever your taste in entertainment, New York can provide it. Multiple teams in all the major sports leagues should satisfy even the most rabid sports fans. The theatre in the city is the envy of the arts world. In addition, if you're moving to the city for the first time, making the requisite pilgrimages to the various tourist attractions in the city such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty can keep you occupied for some time.